Slicing machine



Aug 26, 1941- A. A. KOTTMANN A 2,254,105

SLICING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l f ATTORNEYS Aug.26, 1941 A. KOTTMANN SLICING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR rthur. Kottmanr ATTORNEYS Allg-26, 1941- A. A. KOTTMANN2,254,105

SLICING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORflrbhurJottmann BY E ATTORN EYS atented ug. 2K6, 194i UNITED STATESF13m-QENT.`oFF:I-Cli to Micro-'Westco,

Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application April 23, 1938,. seriaiNo.-203,864'

4 Claims. V(ci. 14e- 153) This invention relates to slicing machines andmore particularly to slicing machines for commercial slicing of breadand other rbakery products.

It is desirable to provide a slicing 'machine which may beconvertedsothat bakery products may be sliced in several slice thicknesses. One wayof obtaining varied slice thicknesses on the same slicing machine is'tosubstitute separate sets'ofblades for the machine `having the desiredblade spacing. This requires a change of blade frames and in order tochange thesek frames readilyit is advantageous that the space adjacentthe blade lframes be clear and unobstructed. However; since the Slicerblades are thin and relatively long it is also advantageous to providesuitable blade guides to keep the blades properly spaced' and iacilitatethe cutting of uniform slices.

` It is an object of this invention to provide a slicer which is readilyconvertible for any slicel thickness. Another object is to provide animproved blade guide mechanism such that the blade guides may be readilyinterchanged forV any change in the distance between blades.

`A further Objectis to provide an article support to' support thearticle at the time it is being sliced but which may be .easily movedout of the way when a change of blade frames is desired.

Another object is to provide a slicing unit in which small heel slivers,crumbs and the like may be removed from the slicing mechanism.

A'Another object is to provide interchangeable heel sliver and crumbdispensers for various loaf lengths.

Other objects and advantages willbecome apparent from the followingdetailedy description andthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view partly in section taken from thedischarge end of the slicer showing a sliced loaf in passage through themachine;l

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken 'substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig.l showing a pivoted holding member in its two operative positions;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the holding member and articlesupport showing the heel sliver or crumb dispenserrplate andhow it maybe removed; f

Fig. .4 is a'plan view interchangeable blade guide;

partly in section of the Ywhich are keyed to' a rotatable shaft i3.

in Fig. 1, taken substantially on the lineG-B- ci Fig. 2;

Fig. 7. is a view taken--substantially on the line '1 -1 of Fig. 1showing a Ydetail of the adjustment for the pivoted blade guide member;

. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the removable heel sliver and crumbdispenser plate;`

Figs 9 is a plan view of the holding member Y illustrating the ymethodof inserting the blade guide element; s

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modified form of mounting-*forVthe cutter or blade guides; Fig. 11Y is an elevational View, lookinginthe same directionA asv iniFig. 1, illustratingY the-'article'control'gateyandV g Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken'substantially onthe line l2-l2 of Figfll.

Referring tothe drawings, in which like parts throughouty the severalviews are indicated by the same numerals of reference,V it is seen thatthe slicing mechanism comprises a pair of side frames l in which. aremounted'for reciprocation in a well known manner, blade frames (notshown)V carrying a plurality'of spaced cutters or blades 3. in by asuitable infeed conveyor, a .portion of which'is shown at 4.Fromthe'infeed conveyor the articles are fed toa transfer table l5 whichis pivotally mounted in the sideframes and is arf ranged to be swungabout the pivots 6 by means of a handle "L VFrom the transfer table 5the articles are fe'dthroughl the blades 3 and While they are beingsliced the articles are supported by the blade guidejmechanismr and atable or article support 9. As theloaves leave the article Theconveyormaybe a discharge conveyor from the slicerror `an infeedconveyor to a suitable wrapping machine. The conveyor' may be of anysuitable type', and as shown, comprises two spaced endless chains I'IVcarried by sprockets l2 The chains Lof the conveyor also Vcarry a seriesof spaced .flights I4 which serve to advance the sliced articles over aconveyor'table I5.V

To mount the blade or cutter guides so that theyr may be rotated to aposition where they Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantiallyon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Figf is a planv View of the mechanism shownwill not interfere ,withza' changepofblade frames aholdin'g member I6is`provided,disposed be- Y l neath andsecurelyfastened tothe articlesup- Thearticles to'be lsliced may be'fed Y' numeral I 5, comprises atransverse channel shaped member having two depending flanges I'I andI8. The iiange I7 carries an outwardly extending shelf I9 substantiallyparallel to the article support 9. The shelf I9 at its free end may beprovided with a plurality of upstanding locking lugs 2o which cooperatewith the shelf I9 and the support 9 to engage and retain the blade guideelement 8 as will be described.

In order that the holding member I6 may be rotatably mounted each endthereof is provided with upwardly projecting mounting ears 2I which maybe secured to brackets 22 by means of suitable screws or bolts 23. Thebrackets 22 are pvotally mounted to the side frame by means of stubshafts 2li journalled in the side frames I and the outer ends of thestub shafts 24 maybe shaped to receive a suitable wrench or handle 23for rotation. Each of the brackets 22 is keyed to the stub shaft 24 asshown at 25, so that when a suitable crank or Wrench 26 is placed on thestub shaft 2:2 and rotated the brackets 22 will rotate, carrying withthem the mounting ears 2I and the holding member I6.

Since it is desirable that the article support and the blade guide beheld in position during the slicing operation, rotation of the holdingmember may be prevented in the following manner. The side frame I isprovided with a boss 2l disposed at approximately the height of the stubshaft 24 as shown in Fig. 7. The bracket 22 carries an upwardlyextending flange 28 which is provided with a drilled and tapped hole toreceive ayset screw 2S which may be locked by a nut 3Q. When the holdingmember I6 is in its operable position the set screw 29 is adjusted sothat it abuts the boss 2 1. Then the nut 30 may be tightened so that thebracket 22 is held against further rotation in a clockwise direction,looking at Fig. '7. Counter-clockwise motion may be prevented by lockingthe transfer table in operating position and in contact with the guideelement 35. Y

It has been found advantageous to dispose of the crumbs and small heelslivers obtained in the slicing of bakery products and for this purposean additional article support or crumb and heel sliver dispenser plateIII is provided which may be resiliently mounted on the holding memberI5 adjacent the'ange I8. The plate I0 has aflange 3I which issubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the article support and isprovided with slots 32 by means of which it may be mounted. The plate II) is mounted so that the flange 3l abuts the flange I3 of the holdingmember I5 and is held thereto by the action of a spring. A suitable bolt33 is provided with a head 33 having its mean diameter greater than thewidth of the slot 32 so that when the plate Iii is mounted on theholdingmember I8 the shank portion of the bolt 33 extends through theslot V32 through an aperture in the iiange I8 and across the spacebetween the anges I5 and I'i of the member I5 toward the ange I'I.Disposed on the ange II is an annular socket 35 arranged toreceive thefree end of the bolt 33. The bolt'33 also carries a helical spring 36which is partially compressed by an annular washer 31. A pin 38 extendsthrough the shank of the bolt v3i! to limitV movementof the Washer 3'!and the spring 35 4and to prevent axial movement ofv these parts beyondthe pin'toward the free end of the shank. The plate '|01 may be "removedbyin'serting ngers through 'ngerjholes and drawing the plate`outwardlyfand slightlyjdowne vrardly away from the flange I8 as shownby the full lines in Fig. 3, thereby compressing the spring 36. In thisway the plate I0 may be readily removed and replaced by other plates ofvarying length so that they may be used to dispose of crumbs and heelslivers from articles of any length.

To provide for a desirable transfer of the sliced articles from thearticle support I0 to the discharge conveyor and prevent the slicedarticles from tipping and falling onto their sides the mechanism shownin Figs. l0 to l2 may be employed. This mechanism consists of a pair ofiiexible fiat blade or paddle members 5I pivotally mounted to the frameand projecting into the path of the sliced articles, so that they areheld on the article support IIJ until advanced therefrom by the nextsucceeding article. The blades or paddles 5I are pivotally connected tolinks or arms 52 which are adjustably mounted on a cross bar 53, whichis, in turn, adjustably securedat its extremities to a pair of supportsor brackets 54 fastened to the frame of the machine. The paddles 5I arefurther connected to the links 52 by springs 55, so that when an articlepresses against the article on the article support I0 which is restingagainst the paddles 5I it must overcome the tension in the springs toadvance the article onto the discharge conveyor. In this way the slicedarticles are transferred singly and progressively to the dischargeconveyor without dis` placement of any of the slices due to tipping orfalling from the heel-sliver dispenser plate and the nights of thedischarge conveyor may contact them and advance them in an orderlyfashion.

rI'his mechanism is made adjustable sothat it may be capable of handlingsliced articles having varying heights and lengths. The arms 52 areadjustable vertically by means of the slots 56 and may be held in thedesired position by bolts 5'I and wing nuts 58 which clamp the arms 52to the cross-piece 53. Intermediate the arms 52 and the cross-piece 53is a horizontally slidable plate member 59 to provide for horizontalmove--v ment of the arms 52 brought about by moving the bolts 5'I inslots 60 of the cross-piece 53. The cross-piece 53 is also verticallyadjustable, by reason of the slots 5I in the supports 54, and thecross-piece may be held in any desired position by bolts 62 and wingnuts 63 which clamp the cross-piece to the support.

'Io provide a cushioned stop for the pivoted paddle, a resilient pad 64may be provided'at the upper end of the paddle, secured thereto.

by the 42 which extend `through the blade'guideh'ele# mentsinto aplurality of metal binding members or key lugs 43. The bolts 42 passthroughapertures 44 in the blade guide elements 39 and'j40,

the aperture in the lower guide element 40 being in the shape of anelongated slot to provide for relative adjustment between the slots of'the blade guide elements.

when the blade guide eiementsss emanare assembled .to the `machine vin'association with lthe blades 3 one side'wall'of each.slot 4|:isdisposed substantiallyY in engagement with zone side. ofthei;corresponding blades 3, Whereas theopposite side vwalllof thecorresponding slot 4I. vof the other lelement is disposed.substantiallyy in engagement with vthe other side loi thel'corresponding blade3. Then the elements 39 and 40fare adjustedVrelative `to each other to obtain .the properdegree of engagement/.of'the side walls 4I with .thesblade 3. In practice theblades 3 shouldengage the slot side walls with a sliding orrunningfitzbutnot to such an`extent .tofcause bending' or'binding of the blade. By'havingthe blades1in running engagement with one'V 'ele-J ment atone side and with: theother element' at theopposite side, any desireddegree of pressure canbeobtained to insure that the blades .will be eiiiciently guided. y

To mountV the assembled bladevguide elements 39and 40- in theholding-member `I6 the assembly is disposed in substantially the same'horizontal plane as the holding member and in a position where 'the keylugs`43 mate with the spaces between the locking-lugs 20 onthe shelfI9.` 'Ihe blade guide elements are then vmoved in a direction toward theholding member andl subsequently inr a direction transversely of theholding member so that the key lugs 43 are in a position directly behindthe locking lugs 20. Now the vblade lguide elements are frictionallyengaged between the lower surface of the article support 9 and. theupper surfaceof the shelf i9 and this frictional engagementA issufticient to retain the. blade guide elements and prevent endwisemovement thereof.

`The operation of the pivotedholding member and its associated mechanismwill now bedescribed. When itiis desired to change the blade` frame inorder to obtain a difieren-tfslicey thick-v ness during thegslicingoperation themachine is shut downandthe transfer table 5 is swung out ofposition by means of the handle 1 to the position shown in broken linein Fig. 2. Then the pivoted holding member is rotated in acounterclockwise direction as looking at Fig. 2'from the positionindicated in full lines to the position indicated in broken lines bymeans of the suitable handle or wrench 26. In this position the spaceadjacent the blades is free and unobstructed so that the bl-ade frame 2may lbe easily removed and a different blade frame substituted havingthe desired blade spacing. It may be seen that, while the holding memberis in its uplifted position, the blade guides may be replaced by adifferent blade guide having slots to correspond to the new bladespacing, so that when the holding member I6 and the transfer table 5 arepivoted back to their normal position the machine is ready to be used.

In the slicing of bread and other bakery products it is desirable thatthe small heel slivers and crumbs which are yformed due to the Yslightirregularities of the article being sliced be removed from the slicingmechanism. This removal may be accomplishedr by the mechanism shown inFigs.r 1, 2 and 6, which operates substantially as follows: n

After the article has been sliced by theblades 3 the individual slicesare held together by means of side guides 46. The side guides 46comprise ilat plates disposed edgewise and are arranged at the side ofthe path of the loaf so that they the article support 9.

engage the' heels .of the 'loaf just .sliced withyan engagement whichholds the SIicestOge-ther without pressing vthem suiciently to injurethem in anyfway. A'plurality of at leaf spring members 41 are disposedon the inner faceof the side guides' 46 .to 'aord a springaction againstfthe endof the loaf. In this way should a loaf pass through the slicingmechanism which is slightly longer or has l.bumps at-the end .oftheloaf, the spring .members .will be depressed rather than causing theslicesof theloaf to be unduly pressed together. .llheiplate' i0 iis.disposed in the path offthe sliced .article at the rearward end of theslicingirnechanism and is "of a length substantially that of an averageloaf, so that when the loaf passesover the vplate lllthere will be asmall space'lbetween theendof the loaf and thesde guides through whichheel slivers mayV drop below the Vvnormal vplane of the loaf to` asuitable container (not shown). Also, crumbsand the like from themidportionof theloa'f may be disposed Vof Vat theend of the platel'between the platlem andthe discharge conveyor. Suitable side guidesmay be provided on the conveyor to hold the slices ofuthe .loaf together,during passage over .the conveyor. These side guides 4'may be attachedtothe side guides 4,6 by means of suitable bolts 4S and wing nuts 50.Obviously, if a change inthelength of lloaf to besliced is made, it isdesirable that the plate l bereplacedby asimilar plate Ihavinga lengthsubstantially that of theloaf to be sliced.

Afmodicationof the blade guide mechanism is shown in Fig. 10 andit'rdiiers from that previously describedin that the blade guideelements are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of theV blades and maybe actuated'by a'single mecha'-- nisrn. An upper bladeV guide' element66 is mounted'in a holding bracket 6l, which maybe secured. to orintegral with the 4vtransfer table 5, and' a lower ,blade guide elementasis mounted in a holding'member 10 secured to or integral with Theelements 66 and 68 cooperate to guide the blades in a manner previouslydescribedin connection with the construction shown in Figs. 2 to 5. I

.To actuate the blade guide elements by a single mechanism, a lever 1l,having a handle 12, is provided to rotate the table 5 about the pivot 6and this lever 'H is extended beyond the pivot Where it is pivotallyconnected to one end of a link 13, the other end of the link beingpivotally .connected to a leverY 14 which is rigidly secured Y to thepivotally mounted holdingV member 16. Accordingly, when the handle 12and the lever 'H are moved in a clockwise direction to the positionshownin broken outline in Fig. 10, the blade guide elements are both rotatedupwardly to the positions shown in broken outline, Where they Vwill notinterfere with a change inV blade frames.

tion of the guides' in such position is substantially the same.

,It is also seen that the mechanism Vdescribed above may be readilyadapted for use with various slicing machines. A slicing machineequipped with or embodying the present invention will be foundadvantageous, since the user is enabled to slice a variety of bakeryarticles of varying dimensions, on one machine with each type of articlehaving the desired slice thickness.

This invention gives added adaptability to a slicing machine withoutinjuring the operation thereof. The change of blade frames to give aplurality of slice thicknesses may be accomplished quickly and easily.

It is to be understoodthat variations and modifications of the specificdevices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration may bemade Without departing from the spirit of, this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a slicing machine, a-plurality of spaced cutters, guide means forthe cutters, said guide means comprising a plurality of elements havingspaced fingers disposable between the cutters, said elements beingcarried by a common binding member, a support for the guide means,fastening means for securing the guide means to the support, saidfastening means arranged so that the guide means are secured to andremoved from the support by lateral movement of the guide means, andmeans for simultaneously pivoting all the lingers of Vthe guide meansfrom between the spaced cutters whereby the cutters may be readilyremoved from the machine.

2. In a slicing machine, a plurality of slicing blades, an articlesupport along which articles may be advanced to and through the blades,a blade guiding device which comprises a support member disposedadjacent the blades in the region of the article support and havingopposed substantially parallel portions, blade guiding elements adaptedto be frictionally engaged anderetained between said parallel portionsand provided with spaced lingers disposable between the blades,intermittent rib portions positioned on one of the parallel portions ofsaid support .memben intermittentl rib portions on said guidingelements, means for positioning the rib portions of said guidingelements between the rib portions of, said support member, and means formoving the guiding elements with respect Vtosaid support member todispose the rib portions thereof behind the rib portions of said Supportmember.

3. A blade guiding device which comprises a support member pivotallymounted adjacent the blades having a pair of opposed substantiallyparallel surfaces Vopen at the side nearest the blades, rib portionsdisposed on one of said parallel surfaces near the free edgethereof,superposed guide ,elements having portions disposable between theblades, rib portions to which the guide elements may be secured andmeans for mounting and retaining the guide elements in the supportmember, which includes positioning the ribportions of the guide elementsbehind the rib portions of the support member and moving the guideelements laterally into the support member.

4. A blade guiding device which comprises a pair of support membersdisposed adjacent the blades each having two`opposed -substantiallyparallel surfaces open toward each side of the blades, guide elementshaving portions disposable between Ithe blades and being retained intheir respective support members by frictional engagement with saidparallel surfaces and by rib portions of the guide elements positionedbehind rib portions disposed on said parallel surfaces of the supportmembers, and means for moving the support members simultaneously .toremove the guide elements from between the blades, whereby the guideelements may be laterally moved for removal from the support members.

ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN.

